Air cushion boat



April 19, 1932. D. K. WARNER AIR CUSHION BOA? Filed Nov. 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I fiazyhsflffi arnefi By ATTbRNEY.

A ril 19, 1932. 'D. K, WARNER 1 1,855,076

AIR CUSHION BOAT Filed Nov. 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITE STATES DOUGLAS K. WARNER, OF WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK" AIR CUSHION BOAT Application filed November 14, 1930. Serial No. 495,776.

This invention relates to an air cushion boat and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a boat which is adapted to ride on a cushion of air when in motion, thereby preventing the boat from being rocked by the waves and enabling the boat to travel at high speed over rough water without the likelihood of any damage to the boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air-cushion boat constructed in a manner to provide for the compression of air beneath the boat by the forward motion of the latter, thereby tending to buoy up the boat and materially increasing the load carrying capacity thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air cushion boat of the character aforesaid which includes longitudinally extending pontoons at the sides thereof which normally ride on the surface of the water when the boat is in motion and which are of relatively narrow construction in order that they may cut through the top of the waves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boat of the character aforesaid which is provided with means for maintaining the boat on a level keel when riding on a cushion of air. s 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more particularly described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the description and drawings are to be taken as illustrative and that the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan of a boat in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken at a point indicated by the line 3-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken at a point indicated by the linedief Fig-. ure 2. r

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through one of theair cylinders for controlling the skids at the water line adjacent the bow ofthe boat.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken at a point indicated by the line 66 of F igure 5.

Referring to the drawings in'detail, the

numeral 1 designates the hull ofmy improved boat which is adapted tobe equipped with an outboard motor, not shown. .The hull 1 is formed with a fiat bottom 2 which is provided V on its upper face with a reinforcing sheet of corrugated metal 3. The bottom, of the hull is carried by a frame 4 provided with suitable reinforcing struts 5. a

At the sides of the hull, the boat is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending runners 6 which terminate at their forward ends rearwardly of the forward" end of the hull. Therboat is further provided on the sides of the hull with a pair of lon itudinally" extending bow runners 7, the side walls of which are disposed in overlapping relation to end portions of the runners 6, and the bottom walls of which terminate in spaced relation to the runners 6, forwardly of the latter. The bottom walls of the bowrunners 7 are designated by the numeral 8. The inner walls of the runners 6 and 7 are designated by the numerals 9 and 10 respectively and constitute the side walls of the hull. The runners Gare of relatively tall and narrow construction having flat bottoms 11;.which are provided. at their side edges with downwardly extending flanges 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to. The runners 6 gradually increase in height in a forward direction. The lower edges of the inner walls 10 of the runners 7, are disposed slightly below the bottoms 11 of the runners 6, while the outer walls 13 'of the runners 7 depend a materal distance below the bottoms 11of the runners 6. The runners 7 are tapered upwardly and inwardly at the forward ends thereof, and the inner walls 10 of the runners are provided adjacent their forward ends and adjacent the hull with openings 14 for the entrance of air to the interior of the runners. Between the runners 7, the hull isprovided with a plurality of air chambers 15.

Disposed within the runners 7 are a pair of skids 16, the forward ends of which are pivotally connected with the runners adjacent the rearward edges of the bottom walls 8. The skids 16 are of substantially U-shaped construction in cross section gradually increasing in height in :a rearward direction and having forward end portions of the runners 6 disposed within rearward end portions of the skids 16. The bottoms of the skids 16 are provided at their side edges with downwardly extending flanges 17. The bottoms of the skids 16 are disposed between the horizontal plane of, the bottoms of the runners 6 and the lower edges of the outer walls 13 of the runners-7 and provide steps beneath the runners.

is pivotally connected with the skids 16 disv ally supplied to theupper ends of the casposed within'the runner 7 within which the air cylinder is mounted. The piston rod 22 is of hollow construction and the upper end portion thereof slidably encircles the tube 19 extending through the piston. Encircling the tube 19 is a coil spring 23, the respective ends of which abut against the upper end of the piston rod 22 and'the upper wall of the piston 18. The tube 19 and hollow piston rod 22 are provided in their side walls with openings 24 and 25 respectively. 5

Thecasings 17 within the runners 7 are connected at their upper ends with air supply pipes 26 which preferably are connected with a suitable air compressor shown conventionally at '27. Adjacent the bottoms thereof, the casings 17 are provided with return pipes 28 leading to the air compressor 27. When the boat is in use, air is continuings whereby aforce is exerted on the upper faces of the pistons, such force being transmitted through the springs 23 to the piston rods 22 to maintain the skids 16 in engagement with the surface of the water. As the boat gains speed and the forward end thereof starts to rise from the water, the pressure of the water on the bottoms of the skids 16 is decreased, ,whereby the hollow piston rods are moved outwardly with respect to the tubes 19 to bring the openings '25 into registry with the openings 24. The skids 16 are thus maintained in. contact with the surface of the water and the escape of air through the openings 24 and 25 permits the piston to rise until the boat has flattened out on the air suflicient to again place enough weight on the front skids to compress the springs '23, closing openings 25 and so rebuilding pressure in cylinders 17. The air which escapes through the openings 24 and 25 is returned to the compressor'27 through the motor if desired, in which event the gas which leaks past the pistons 18 will .be permitted to escape. In lieu of the air cylinders, the skids 16 may be controlled manually if desired, or may be set at 'a fixed height to care for average conditions.

Having its rearward edge integrally connected with the bow of the boat is a transversely extending elevator 29 which is pivotally connected adjacent its forward edge with the forward ends of a pair of links .30. The rearward ends of the links 30 are pivotally connected with a pair of levers 31 which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on a pair of brackets 32. Pivotally connected to the lower ends of the levers 31 are a pair of links 33 which extend rearwardly and are pivotally connected at their rearward ends to the upper ends of a pair of levers 34 which are fixedly mounted intermediate their endsv on a transversely extending rod 35 having its ends pivotally mounted in a pair of brackets 36. Intermediate the 7 ends thereof, the rod 35 is fixedly connected with the steering column 36 which'carriesa steering wheel 37 Pivotally connected to the lower ends of the levers 34 are a pair of links 38'which extend rearwardly and which are pivotally connected at their rearward ends to a pair of crank arms 39 fixedly mounted on a pair of rotatable shafts 40 journaled in suitable brackets 41. 'Fixedly mounted on the shafts In the use of the boat, the elevator 29 and skids 44 are normally disposed in the position shown in Figure 2. Upon a forward motion'of the boat, air enters cylinders 17, depressing pistons 18 and the skids 16, thereby tending to depress the latter to liftthe forward end of the boat. The forward motion of the boat also causes air to be forced into contact with the bottom of the hull at the bow of the boat, which in connection. vwith the force of water on the skids 16, lifts the bottom of the hull at the bow of the boat whereby the boat is supported at its forward I end by the air under the same and by the skids 16. Owing to the increasing height of the runners -6 in a forward direction, the bottom 2 of the hull is disposed at an upward inclination to the direction of travel whereby the air entering the space beneath.

the bottom 2 is compressed slightly to sup portthe boat. The air compressed beneath the boat cannot escape at the sides, owing to the runners 6, therefore the compressed air lifts the rearward end of the boat and escapes at rear. The action of the air cylinders within the runners 7 tend to cause a more uniform lifting of the boat, and the air entering the runners 7 through the openings 14 is'discharged beneath the runners 6 and trapped thereunder by the flanges 12 on the bottoms 11 thereby further tending to reduce the water friction under the runners by holding an air film. In the event that the bow of the boat lifts too rapidly, a downward force on the steering wheel 37 causes the elevator 29 and skids l to be swung downwardly about their pivots whereby the lifting force of the air at the bow of the boat is decreased, while the lifting force of the water at the stern of the boat is increased.

What I claim is 1. A boat having a pair of longitudinally extending runners at the vsides thereof for supporting the boat, said boat further having its bottom disposed at a forward and upward inclination to provide for the compression of air under the boat by the forward motion of the latter, said runners depending to the water to prevent the escape of the compressed air at the sides of the boat, and a transversely extending elevator at the bow of the boat to increase and decrease selectively the lifting force of the air at the bow of the boat.

2. A boat having a pair of longitudinally extending runners at the sides thereof for supporting the boat when in motion, said boat further having its bottom disposed at a forward and upward inclination to provide for the compression of air under the boat by the forward motion of the latter, said runners depending into the water to prevent the escape of the compressed air at the sides of the boat, a pair of skids pivotally mounted adjacent the forward ends of the runners to prevent the boat from leaving the water in response to the lifting force of the air at the bow of the boat, a stationary cylinder located above each of said skids, a piston slidable within the cylinder, a piston rod slidably connected with the piston and pivotally connected with the skid thereunder, a spring normally forcing the piston rod outwardly with respect to the piston, and means for admitting compressed air to the cylinders above the pistons.

3. A boat comprising, a hull having its sides formed with a pair of longitudinally extending runners for supporting the boat with the bottom of the hull spaced from the water when the boat is in motion, said runners increasing in height from rear to front to tilt the bottom of the hull at a forward and upward inclination, a pair of skids pivotally supported forwardly of the runners, said skids overlapping and depending below forward end portions of the runners, and means for swinging the skids in upward arcs upon the lifting of the bow of the boat to prevent the latter from leaving the water. j

4. A boat comprising, a hull having its sides formed with a pair of longitudinally extending; runners for supporting the boat with the bottom of the hull spaced from the water when the boatis in motion, said runners increasing in height from rear to front to tilt the bottom of the boat at a forward and upward inclination, a pairof bow runners having their sides overlapping forward end portions of the first named runners and having their bottoms terminating forwardly of the latter, a pair of skids pivotally mounted within the bow runners and extending rearwardly beneath forward end portions of the first named runners, and means for swinging the skids in downward arcs upon the dropping of the bow of the boat to lift the bow and increase the air lift under the boat when over a fixed percentage of the boats weight rests on said skids.

5. A boat comprising, a hull having its sides formed with a pair of longitudinally extending runners for supporting the boat with the bottom of the hull spaced from the water when the boat is in motion, said runners increasing in height from rear to front to' tilt the bottom of the boat at a forward and upward inclination, a pair of how runners having their sides overlapping forward end portions of the first named runnersan'd having their bottoms terminating forwardly of the latter, a pair of skids pivotally mounted within the bow runners and extending rearwardly beneath forward end portions of the first named runners, and means for swinging the skids in downward arcs to lift the bow of the boat and increase air lift under the boat when over a fixed percentage of the boats weight rests on said skids, said how runners being formed adjacent their upper forward ends with openings for the admission of air under said skids and first named runners and so reducethe friction contact between said runners and water.

6. A boat comprising, a hull having its sides formed with a pair of longitudinally extending runners for supporting the boat with the bottom of the hull spaced from the water when the boat is in motion, said runners increasing in height from rear to front to tilt the bottom of the boat at a forward and upward inclination, a pair of bow runnershaving their sides overlapping forward end portions of the first named runners and having their bottoms terminating forwardly of the latter, a pair of skids pivotally mounted within the bow runners and extending rearwardly beneath forward end portions of the first named runners, and means for swinging the skids in upward arcs upon the lifting of trapping the air passing under them.

7. A boat having a pair of longitudinally extending runners atthe sides thereof for supporting the boat when in motion, said boat further having its bottom disposed at a forward and upward inclination to provide for the compression of air under the boat by the forward motion of the latter, said runners depending into the water to prevent the escape of the compressed air at the sidesof the boat, a transversely extending elevator at the bow of the boat to increase and decrease selectively the lifting force of the air at the bow of the boat, a pair of pivotally mounted skids at the rearward ends of the runners to increase and decrease selectively the lifting force of the water at the stern of the boat, and a pair of skids pivotally mounted adjacent the forward ends of the runners to prevent the boat from leaving the water in response to the lifting force of the air at the bow of the boat by maintaining a fixed portion of the load on said skids.

8. A boat having a pair of longitudinally at the bow of the boat to increase and de-' crease selectively the lifting force of the air at the bow of the boat, a pair of pivotallymounted skids at the rearward ends of the runners to increase and decrease selectively the lifting force of the water at the stern of the boat, a pair of skids pivotally mounted adjacent the forward ends of the runners to prevent the boat from leaving the water in response to the lifting force of the air at' the bow of the boat, manually operated means for controlling the elevator and skids at the rearward ends of the runners simultaneously, and automatically operated means for controlling the skids adjacent the forward ends of the runners.

tively the lifting stern of the boat.

9. A boat having a pair oflongitudinally extending runners at the sides; thereof for supporting the boat on water when in motion, means to provide for the compression of air under the bow of the boat when in motion, said runners and bottom providing a passageway under the'boat for the compressed air to cushion the boat, and an elevator at the bow ofthe boat to increase and de-- crease selectively the lifting force of the air motion, said runners and bottom providing a passageway under the boat forthe compressed air to cushion the boat,and a pair of skids pivotally connected to the rearward ends of the runners and projecting rearwardly therefrom to increase and decrease selecforce of the water at the 11. A boat having a pair of longitudinally extending runners at the sides thereof for supporting the boat on watercwhen in motion, means to provide for-the compression of air under the bow of the boat when in motion, said runners. and bottom providing a passageway under the boat for the compressed air to cushion the boat, a pair of skids pivotally mounted adjacent the forward ends of the runners for engagement with the water, means for exerting a downward thrust on said skids to prevent the same from leaving the water upon a lifting of the bow, and means for automatically decreasing said thrust to provide forlowering the bow following the lifting thereof.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

DOUGLAS K. WARNER. 

